Did you know

that for entering the Republic Croatia you need a passport, you need to apply for registration permit and by return you can realize tax rebate

If you are a foreigner, for entering the Republic Croatia you need a passport or some other personal identification, acknowledged with bilateral state agreement. You can get a visa on the border crossing, but it is recommended that passengers ask for further information in the closest diplomatic missions and consular posts. If you arrive with your car, you must have a green card, certificate of international car insurance to show to border officers. The custom provisions of the Republic of Croatia are coordinated with EU regulations. Foreign currencies can be freely taken in and out of the country. More valuable equipment must be reported at the customs and custom declaration must be filled in. If you have a pet, it must have an international certificate, given by official veterinarian that proves it has been vaccinated against rabies fifteen days before, but not more than six months ago. Tax rebate can be realized when leaving Croatia, if your shopping is more than 500 HRK and if you have a so called tax cheque. Residence permit is obligatory. If you don't apply for residence permit in Croatia, you will be punished along with your hosts.

that Sibenik has only one arranged public beach - on Jadrija - constructed and opened in 1922

In Sibenik the first organized and public beach opened on the coast, which is on the area from today's customhouse to Vrulje Bay (today this is a levelled bay with the bus station on it). The beach was constructed by contractor Ante Makale and it had its own Regulations for swimmers (Regolamento per Bagnanti). According to the schedule, the beach was opened for swimmers from 4 to 8 for all, from 8 to 11 for ladies, from 11 to 15 for all and from 15 to 18 for army. At the beginning of 1908 on the hill Paklena in Sibenik's port the beach with wooden quay was improvised and it served its purpose until the 50s of the last century. Until the First World War, the beach near the factory SUFID (TEF), near the house of family Battigeli, on the northwest part of Sibenik port was also used.

that only divers with finished diving education and valid diver card can dive in the Adriatic Sea

Diver cards are valid for a year since the date of its issue and are issued only by the harbour master's offices and Croatian diving Society to those divers who have a diving education in internationally acclaimed schools. All the information on diving in Sibenik area can be received in Sibenik's harbour master's office. A temporary diving permission is not valid. The price of diving card is 100HRK. The area where you dive must be visibly marked by diving buoy or flag. The permitted maximum depth for breath-hold diving is forty metres. You are not allowed to dive in national parks, ports, traffic accesses and passages, near military areas and warships. You are not supposed to take anything out of the sea, especially from cultural monuments. The permission for taking things out of the sea is given by the port's authority with the approval of the service for the monument protection. For all the other research under the sea you need to have the permission of Ministry of tourism, while for all the research on cultural monuments you need to have the approval of the service for the protection of cultural monuments.

that in 1997 the reconstruction of town garden of Roberto Visinio started, whose new horticultural project was made by agronomist Ivan Jelic from Zadar

The fundamental principles of this horticultural project were contained in keeping the garden's historical layout structure and planting native (Mediterranean) vegetal species. During the reconstruction on garden's medium terrace with occasional archaeological research, a part of unknown town fortification was found. However, the Town garden of Roberto Visinio was arranged in 1896 with the intervention of then municipal's commissioner Frane Madirazza, from Trogir, on the basis of the contract made on the 11 September 1895 between the Municipality and the convent of Saint Franjo (Francis). According to that contract, the convent gave 206 square metres to the Municipality for town garden and facade, with all that the Municipality arranged the wall of garden and facade of convent, removed water canal, installed the water supply system into the convent and sacristy, secured free water all on its own expanse and even paid 100 florins to the convent.

that a custom called 'Proslava' celebrates only in Sibenik e near places, while in other places is completely unknown

"Proslava" (Festivity) is celebrated on the 17th December, eight days before Christmas. That custom comes from the ancient past, when pagan people celebrated the birth of God Sun, because day became longer. In ancient Rome it was Saturnalia, celebrated in honour of Saturn from the 17th until the 24th December. Proslava got religious significance in Sibenik. On that day, in the evening, the occasional food was prepared in houses, and at midnight the church bells sang, while the people would gather on the central town square Poljana. There was music, wheel dances, food and drink would be brought from houses. There was song everywhere. Proslava is the only custom that held on for many centuries, until today, although in not a noisy way as before, today is exclusively celebrated in houses with occasional food and drink.

that for sex on the beach, that is on any public place, there is a penalty - maximum of 30 days in prison or 100 EUR in Croatia

For the sexual intercourse on public place in other countries there are following penalties: Austria - 6 months in prison, Denmark - four years or 1200 EUR, Bulgaria - no penalty, Egypt - three years, Finland - six months or 1200 EUR, France - one year, Greece - two years, Italy - three years, Norway - one year, Portugal - one year, Romania - two years, Sweden - 50 EUR, Thailand - 500 EUR, Turkey - 6 months. However, tourists in the USA have to be extra careful. Everything that is considered completely normal in Europe, in some parts of the USA is considered immoral (e.g. topless and nudism). The laws, depending on states, go from liberal to ultra-conservative. For sexual intercourse on the public place you can get six months in prison while in California, in Arizona even three years. Girls in Delaware can be punished if they go swimming without the upper part of swimming suit after six birthdays. Men in Michigan, if seen or reported masturbating, can get up to five years in prison. However, they are all overcome by the state of Idaho: lifetime in prison for anal sex. (Source: Turist plus).

that Sibenik's Town Library was founded on the 17th February 1922 and its first days it only had 1105 books, while it had only 26 inhabitants of Sibenik as its members

A year later, in February 1923, there were already 406 inhabitants who paid the membership, while the book fund was raised to 2681. In 1966 town library, which was later called Popular Library, was united with Scientific library, founded in 1962, into Town library. It got the name "Juraj Sizgoric" on the 29th December 1970 on the occasion of the birthday of this great Croatian humanist. Today the library has three departments: Scientific, with hemeroteca and reading room, Popular and Children, with the fund of 140 thousand books. It also serves as the central library for all popular and school libraries on the area of Sibenik-Knin County. Til 1992 it has developed a very successful publishing activities. In 2005 town library Juraj Sizgoric was transferred into new premises - ex-JNA's House on Poljana, which is adapted according to the most modern requests of library activities.

that Sibenik area is by far known for its quality lamb's meat that is prepared in a special way in this region - under a baking lid

For preparation of this food for 10 people you need a small lamb, 3 kilos of potato, 3 onions, 3 spoons of lard, a glass of water and salt. The lamb is cut in pieces and salted. Potato is peeled, cut in quarters, salted and put into a round baking dish and above it lamb's meat is placed. Onions cut in quarters and 2 decilitres of water are added. The baking dish with food is put onto a well heated surface, covered with hot baking dish and covered up with live coals. After an hour, the lid is lifted, the meat is turned on the other side, than covered up again with live coals and than left for another hour to be baked. After that, the lamb is taken out of the lid, cut in two and served with a good wine. The meal prepared in this way gives a special taste and aroma. You can find it on the menu of every rural catering establishment and further.